What is true in the emotional treadmill derived from the menstrual cycle?
Experiencing mood swings in the days just before your period is a very common and talked about thing among women. Although, above all, men comment on it 😅.
If you're feeling moody, sad, irritable, or just more sensitive before your period, you're definitely not imagining it. There is a lot of truth to that and, as always, body chemistry and physiology have the answers.
Nine out of ten women say they experience some or all of the symptoms of PMS, with mood swings and irritability being the most common.
How do hormones affect each moment of the menstrual cycle?
What is not so common is to talk about how the dance of hormones really affects each moment of a woman's menstrual cycle, that is, each week of a woman's life. These hormonal changes can affect both a woman's emotions and outlook on life. and knowing them can be a great tool.
Welcome to the emotional Ferris wheel!
In this sense, we will analyze each phase of the menstrual cycle and the impact that different hormones have on a woman's mood.
Are there scientific bases for the affectation of the menstrual cycle on humor?
Science has not yet fully clarified the original causes of these mood swings, but there is no doubt that it has to do with the interaction between sex hormones and certain chemicals that function as neurotransmitters in the brain and that induce final behavior in women.
Spirituality does reach places where science does not reach.
Mood changes and emotions during the woman's cycle
The woman's menstrual cycle can not only be conceived as a merely physiological phenomenon, but as a powerful creative force that also affects women on a psychological and spiritual level.
We will combine in this post what science says and what the evidence of female rhythms has left as a more spiritual legacy of the process.
Emotions during menstruation
This phase begins on the first day of spotting and typically lasts between three days and a week. Menstruation occurs when an egg has not been fertilized, causing estrogen and progesterone levels to drop sharply.
This triggers the detachment and disintegration of the endometrium. Research shows that it is quite common to feel a slightly depressed or experiencing mood swings during the first days of the period until enough sex hormones are produced again at the beginning of the next cycle.
During this phase, especially if accompanied by dull, aching pain, you may increase discouragement in women and promote an introspective and recollection attitude.
Holistic view of emotions in the menstrual phase
This stage is considered a moment of "death" and introspection, where one cycle closes and another begins. It is in this phase where the woman can contact the dark, cold and receptive part of her, which is often denied or not recognized.
A more spiritual vision invites women to allow themselves to “die” and be reborn each month, to imagine this physiological process as an opportunity to free themselves, leaving behind the old and welcoming the new. It is also recommended not to understand this stage as something negative but as something unique to women.
It is very appropriate to rest sufficiently during this phase: sleep, dream and meditate... However, not being able to do so due to the social demands of our society, women tend to suffer from increased tiredness, irritation and frustration.
Emotions in the follicular phase
Technically, this phase also begins on the first day of bleeding, although during menstruation hormone production is still very low and it fails to generate such substantial changes at the brain level.
After the first few days of spotting, the hypothalamus (a region of the brain) stimulates the pituitary gland (also located in the brain) to release the hormone (estrogen) that stimulates the follicles within the ovary to mature.
This leads to an increase in estrogen production and the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, begins to thicken.
It is likely that, once the first days of the period are over, the mood will begin to sprout and enough energy will be found to undertake things. This is because estrogen generates a signal in the brain similar to that generated by other hormones such as leptin (which reports on the energy state of the body).
Both leptin and the rise in estrogen give a signal that the brain picks up and that “convinces” it that the reserves are full and, therefore, it can order actions and motivation to do things.
If there were not this signal of 'enough energy', the brain could inhibit in the woman any thought that involved movement or energy expenditure.
In a 28-day cycle, this phase typically lasts about two weeks. In addition to feeling that energy levels are increased, women experience some mental clarity, mental acuity and enhanced memory capacity.
La pain tolerance It can also be higher in this period.
The follicular phase from an emotional plane
From the spiritual point of view, it is the phase of "rebirth" after death. At this time, the woman's body begins to prepare to produce a new egg. It is a dynamic and radiant stage, in which the woman prioritizes herself as a woman against her reproductive functions.
It is likely that you feel more confident in yourself and that you have the need to socialize. Concentration and ambition become stronger, so it is at this stage of the cycle that you can focus more on your work or personal projects.
Sexuality at this stage is usually fresh and playful.
Some women get stuck in this stage and try (unnaturally) to live linearly (that is, constantly) under this energy. This results in a hyper-sociable, hyper-working woman, disconnected from her most maternal and empathic side, and also from her dark side, from which she constantly flees.
Mood in the ovulation phase
It is the shortest phase of the cycle. Ovulation only lasts between 16 and 32 hours and this is when a woman is most fertile. Nature could not fail here.
This phase is quite short so that, in addition, he 'catch' the woman reluctantly or with little energy. We would not have survived until now as a species!
That is to say, everything in the body "conspires" so that this phase is the most plethoric phase for women. reign the positive emotions, libido increases and feelings are on the surface. Everything feels more intense and positive.
This state of expansion has been linked to the surge in luteinizing hormone that is required to trigger ovulation.
Ovulation and emotions according to the most spiritual visions
The most spiritual reading of the menstrual cycle talks about how this phase is characterized by self-sacrifice and care for others, issues related to motherhood.
The interest in oneself is fading and women tend to show more need to assume responsibilities and "feed" projects and ideas that already exist.
Women's sexuality at this stage often manifests as an experience of deep love and the desire to share. If you pay attention, you may also notice that at this stage people seek your help and support more.
A woman who gets stuck in this phase of her cycle will have a lot of trouble saying no, and will easily fall into the trap of becoming a "human doormat" so as not to lose the love of her loved ones.
The luteal phase and women's emotions
This phase lasts another 14 or 15 days, in complete cycles of about 28-30 days. And, although estrogen levels are still rising during this phase, they will never reach follicular phase levels.
There is a strong drop during ovulation and there will be another a couple of days before the period, which is when the symptoms are most acute.
As the days go by in this phase, the woman may begin to feel a slightly slow and distracted, as well as irritable, sad, moody and even angry at the world. This is the phase in which the symptoms of the dreaded Premenstrual syndrome or PMS.
For most women, PMS symptoms begin four to 10 days before their period begins.
The explanation for the development of the characteristic symptoms of this syndrome, especially those related to mood, is believed to have to do with a decrease in the final levels of serotonin, the happiness hormone.
Although the mechanism that causes it is not clear, estrogens are considered serotonin agonists and if the levels are not optimal they could trigger these symptoms.
In this sense, there are some things that we could do to boost the levels of serotonin in the system such as having a healthy intestine and eating well, sleeping correctly and sufficiently and moving.
At this stage, the egg has already been released and has not been fertilized. Then begins in women a need to delve into the innermost side of their being.
Spiritual view of the luteal phase
This is a stage of great creativity, where you can take advantage of the energy that a woman accumulates each month to make art, explore other types of creative expression or, if that is the case, to create a new life in her womb.
His ability to concentrate and his tolerance for the mundane tends to decrease, but his intuition and his ability to dream grow.
Spiritually, it is said that in this phase there is an unconscious resistance of the woman to the fact that she has not been fertilized, which manifests itself in alterations such as swelling, pain, irritability, overwhelmed emotionality, etc. A new bleeding is coming, a loss, a missed opportunity...
And, once here... Start over!
References:
- Eriksson, O. et al. Mood changes correlate to changes in brain serotonin precursor trapping in women with premenstrual dysphoria. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. Volume 146, Issue 2, March 31, 2006, Pages 107-116
- Gonda, X. et al. Patterns of mood changes throughout the reproductive cycle in healthy women without premenstrual dysphoric disorders.. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. Volume 32, Issue 8, 12 December 2008, Pages 1782-1788
- Reinhold G. Laessle et al. Mood changes and physical complaints during the normal menstrual cycle in healthy young women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 15, Issue 2, 1990, Pages 131-138
- Gray, M. Red moon: the gifts of the menstrual cycle. Publishing Gaia 2003
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Here I leave you three products related to the menstrual cycle that will surely be interesting for you
- FertyVital
- YogiTea Woman Balance
- Feeding and female health: Take care of your hormones by eating delicious
And here are three blog articles to learn about your cycle and improve your hormonal and general health